Unlike the MLB, the NHL doesn’t have a lucrative TV deal to help pad each teams bottom line. The $43M for each team next year, most of that is coming from the fans.

This is a HUGE jump from the $39M maximum the NHL had as a salary cap after the lockout (2005-2006) season. And more importantly, the minimum of $27M…

Could you imagine if the Phoenix Coyotes ‘revenue loss’ was replaced with a Hamilton team that was a ‘revenue generator’? Then the salary cap would probably be $62M-$64M with a minimum floor between $44M – $46. Might not seem like a big deal but remember the Atlanta Thrashers had trouble making the minimum three years ago when it was only $34M…now at $40 that is an exta $6M and the fan base in Atlanta isn’t going to make up that amount.

This increase is going to make things crazy…more and more bloated contracts are floating around the NHL. (Tim Thomas, $5 million cap hit * 3 years; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray, $5.4 million * 2years, and many more)

With five teams struggling to get under the cap and another six NFL teams strugling to make the floor…what is the state of the NHL?

Did you know that NBC is the rights holder for the NHL in the US? Did you know the NHL constantly changes it schedule (both regular season and playoffs) to accomodate NBC? Did you know that NBC doesn’t care about the NHL?

Mr. Suck’s relationship with NBC is the same as an abusive relationship…the worse NBC treats the NHL… the more Mr. Suck tries to make NBC happy. This Olympic snub shows Gary ‘Mr. Suck’ Bettman has no clout in the US…he can’t call in any favours…he can’t do anything for the NHL.

Mr Suck…your petty attitude and distain for all thing Canadian can be seen by even your US ‘friends’. If you can’t get a a partner to air a Canada V USA Olympic on their main network…well what good are you?

Please do the right thing and resign!!!

BTW: You can read more on Yahoo Sports